understatement

nounattested in dialogue

United Kingdom//ˌʌndəˈsteɪtmənt//
United States//ˌʌndɚˈsteɪtmənt//

A figure of speech whereby something is made to seem smaller or less important than it actually is, either through phrasing or lack of emphasis, often for ironic effect.

noun

1
A figure of speech whereby something is made to seem smaller or less important than it actually is, either through phrasing or lack of emphasis, often for ironic effect.
A master of understatement
And that mode of expression is very demurring and self-deprecating. Victorian English was all about understatement.
2
An instance of such phrasing or lack of emphasis; an incomplete statement.
Now that's an understatement.
3
An incomplete disclosure that intentionally withholds relevant information.

Etymology

From under- + statement or understate + -ment.

Forms

plural: understatements

understand · To know the meaning of; to parse or have parsed correctly; to…understandable · Capable of being understood; comprehensible.understanding · The act of one that understands or comprehends; the mental…

understatement · A figure of speech whereby something is made to seem smaller or less important than it actually is, either through phrasing or lack of emphasis,…

understood · Having been comprehended.undertake · To take upon oneself; to start, to embark on.undertaker · A funeral director; someone whose business is to manage…

The neighbouring pages — Alphabetical order follows the rules of the language, not byte values: an accent decides only between two otherwise identical words, and Spanish files Ñ as a letter of its own.